chappell



(No Model.) 3 sheetssheet 1.

T. G. GHAPPELL 8v E. D.M0ORIE.

LETTER BOX.

Patented Mar. 26, 1889..

@aveva/bob.) M. SMOM/Q13 Mimes-aaa, www? @CAV @sgg/ N. PETERS. Phuvlhhograpmr. Washinglnn. D. C.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2. T. C. CHAPPELL & E. D. MOORE.

LETTER BOX.

(No Model.)

(No Model.) SYSheetS-Sheet 3."-

. T. CHAPPB'LL 8v E. D. MOORE.

LETTER BOX. No. 400,299. Patented'Mar. 26, 1889.

Fig; 10.,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS C. OHAPPELL AND EVERETT D. MOORE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND; SAID MOORE ASSIGNOR TO SAID OHAPPELL.

LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 400,299, dated March 26, 1889.

Application filed lla; 1,1888. Serial No. 272,453. (No model.)

To all whom it 71mg/ concern:

Be it known that we, THoMAs C. CHAPPELL and EVERETT D. MOORE, both citizens of the United States, and residents of the city of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Boxes, of which the following is a full and exact specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which ro similar letters of reference indicate similar parts.

Our invention relates to letter-boxes which may be used for all classes of mail-matter, both letters and packages.

r 5 In making a mail-box for packages it is necessary to provide means by which the necessarily-large opening provided as an entrance to the box should not, when opened, expose the interior in such a manner that zo packages already in the box can be extracted either by the hand or by an instrument provided with a hook.

Our invention is designed to accomplish this result by providing the box with a false bottom or diaphragm, which divides it into an upper and lower section. The upper section is used to receive the mail-matter and the lower one to store it until collected by the proper official, who has access to the storage- 3o box in the same general manner as is now used for letter-boxes.

The further features of our invention consist of mechanism by which t-he false bottom is closed and locked before the entrance door or lid can be opened, in which condition it will remain while the door or cover is opened and closed again, and mechanism by which the door or cover when closed will be locked until the false bottom has been dropped so 4o as to deposit its mail-matter into the storagebox and raised and locked again.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of the entire box. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the center of the box, with lid raised, shown in dotted lines, and also changed position of other parts. Fig. 3 is a top view of box. Fig. 4 is a sectional detailed view showing internal mechanism. Fig. 5 is a side view` of same. 'AFig 6 is a 5o sectional detailed view showing working parts in different positions. Fig. 7 is a plan view of working parts. Fig. 8 is a sectional front elevation showing a modification of Working parts and extracting-door, the extraction-door being removed. Fig. 9 is a sec- 55 tional side elevation of same. Fig. l() is a View of top of box with cover removed.

A represents the sides or walls of the b'ox, made, preferably, of cast-iron, and cast in one or more parts. The sides and back are pref- 6o erably flat. The front is partially flat and partially semi-cylindrical.

B is the bottom, which maybe cast integral with the sides or` separated. It may also be made of any desired form. Ve have shown a form which We prefer in Fig. 2, in which the bottom has a depression at or about the middle.

O is the extracting-door. (Shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.) In these figures it is shown as made 7o convex on the exterior and meeting similar shaped projections on the sides of the box. This form has the advantage of giving greater storage capacity on the interior of the box. The form is not material, however, and we have shown another form in Figs. 8 and 9.

D is the cover or entrance door of the box, which is the same in all of the figures, save 8,

9, and lO, in which it is shown with some modiH fications. The lid D is hinged to the side wall 8o of the box in any suitable way, and in Figs.

l, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 is constructed in the following manner: Referring to Figs. 4, 5, 6, and '7, the cover is made preferably of cast iron and cored so as to consist of a chamber or pocket closed on all sides save the back. On the open side We place the hinges, and when the cover is secured to the box by them the open side'of the cover is closed by resting against thc back of the box. IVe construct the cover in 9o this way because it is desirable to cover the levers and catch, which operate on the inside of the lid and prevent them from being exposed when the lid is opened.

D is a lever pivoted to the center of the outside of the cover by the stud d, to one end of which it is secured. Said stud projects through the cover and is journaled in it, and to the other end of the stud is secured 'the lever D2 in a right line with the lever D. The Ioo tree end of the lever D is turned downward and inward so as to form a hook, d3, which engages the edge of the cover, and also a projecting ledge, a, on the top of the front wall of the box. This ledge uf is in shape a seetion of a circle, and so long as the hook d3 engages said ledge the cover of the box cannot be opened. So soon, however, as it passes the end of the ledge it may be. In this way we insure a complete throw of the levei s D and D2, and hence a complete raising and locking of the false bottom before the cover of the box can be opened.

On the interior of the pocket or casing, at a point opposite the stud (l and on the righthand side oi' it, looking from the front backward, is casta lug or block, 71:, perforated with a square hole, k2, which extends through the casing also. Into this hole is iitted a square bolt, 71:, which is turned into a right angle, as shown in Fig. l. The hole is horizontal, and when the cover of the box is closed or horizontal the free end et the bolt will be perpendicular. The upright end ot the bolt bears upon the side oi the boss of levers D2 around stud d. Said boss made in the form oi' a cam, K-that is to say, with a swell on 011e side. The bolt 7a is encircled by` a spiral spring, 7u, which bears upon the lug or block 7n and upon the uprightpart oi' said bolt, thus keeping the bolt withdrawn it'rom the hole k2 as far as the boss ot the lever D2 and cam l will permit.

About midway of the height of the box or at any desired distance from the top are hinged two pieces of board or iiat metal, E E, of such a width that when drawn up to the horizontal they will form a complete diaphragm or false bottom to the box. rlo the extremities of the sect-ions E E are attached chains 'j j, the other ends `of which are secured to a sliding bar, J, which is held and slid es in guides jiji, secured tothe interior of the side wall of the box. To the upper end oi' this slide J is secured a chain, l?, which passes up and over a sheave, ll, which turns on a pin set into the side wall of the box near the top and immediately above the guides j j". Thence the chain F passes horizontally toward the back of the box and around sheave G, which is in a horizontal position and turns upon a pin or stud set in a projecting bracket, which is also secured to the side of the inner wall of the box. Chain F thence passes horizontally across the rear of the box, still on the interior, and secured to the end of the lever D2. Over the mechanism just described is placed an inelosing shield or case, which consists of the cover a2 and the vertical partition A. Thiscover is secured to the interior wall of the box in any suitable way, and in Figs. l and G the top ai serves as the bracket to which sheave G is secured. The vertical partition A is perforated with a hole, a", in such position that when the cover D is closed it will stand opposite to the end oil the bolt 7.1 and form a keeper for said bolt, serv; ing to lock the cover D and prevent its bein g opened. The sliding bar J at its upper end is perforated with a hole, jl', in which slides the boltj' having a eollar,j5, a short distance from its end, and is encircled by a spiral spring, j, by which it is pressed away from the sliding bar J as far as the vertical partition A will permit. The other end of the boltj2 rests against the interior ot' the vertical partition A', (see Fig. 4,) and the end slides upon it as the bar J .is raised and lowered. lVhen the levers D and D2 are turned, the chains F drawn, and the bar J raised, the bolt /tii will be forced out ot' the hole or koepel' of by the spring 7a", in consequence of the cam K being turned so as to permit it, and when the bolt/'2, as the bar J rises, reaches the hole a, it being in a vertical line therewith, the spring j will i'orce the bolt into said hole and lock the false bottom E E in a horizontal position. Then this has been accom plished, the hook di on the end oi' the lever D will have passed the end of the ledge c, and the cover D may now be raised for the admission ot inail-matter.

It is desirable that the cover should always be left in a position in which, il released, it would at once fall and close the box. One form ot device for accomplishing this is shown in Figs. 2, l, and 5. The bar L is made with an anchor or cross-piece at one end, and is fitted into a staple or keeper, l, which is secured to the side of the vertical partition A', just below the level of the inside of the cover. rlhe upper end of the bar is perforated with a hole through which presses the bolt alwhich serves to unite the bar to the cover. This bar is of such a length that when the cover D .is raised the bar will permit it to be opened sulliciently to place mail-matter in the box, but not to pass beyond the perpendicular, and when released the cover will tall by gravity, drawn down also by the weight ol the bar. Other means of accomplishing this result may be devised.

The operation of the device is as follows: lVhen it is desired to open the box to deposit mail-matter, the lever D turned to the right until the hook di has become disengaged from the ledge a. 'lhe turning of the lever D also turns D2 and draws the chain F, and as the cam l( is turned permits the spring 7c.' to withdraw the bolt it from the hole a3, thus unlocking the box. As the chain F rises the bar J will be drawn up and the false bottom E E with it. lVhen bar J rises high enough, the boltj2 will spring into the hole a3 and lock the false bottoni in a horizontal position.

lOO

TIO

Mail-matter is now deposited, the cover closed again, and the lever D turned back to its normal position, or it may be provided with a spring or weight to draw it back automatically. As it returns toits central position its cam l( will force the bolt 71: into hole ai and bolt j? out of said hole. The release of bolt-j2 will release' bar J and let the false bottom E E drop and deliver its mail-matter in the storage-chamber.

In Figs. 8, 9, and l0 we have shown a modiiied form of construction for carrying` out our invention. In this modification the leverD, instead of being pivoted to the cover, is a lever of the second kind, and is secured at one end to the rear wall et the box, and is attached directly to the slidingl bar J, which is extended upward and is beveled on its end and inclined toward the partition A. Secured to the bar J is a projection, X. Abar, L,is pivoted to the under side of the cover D, and enters the cavity or space between the wall A and the partition-wall A which is open at the top when the cover is closed. Said bar L is also beveled on its end inclined toward the exterior wall of the box and also has a projection, y, secured to it.

Set in a hole in the partition A', which is a little above the level ot the end of the bar J when raised, is a bolt, l), held in a desired position ot extension by a spring, w, and projecting into the interspace between the wall A and the partition A. Set in a hole in the wall A, which is a little below the level of the end of the'bar L when the cover is closed, is a bolt, b', held in place and at a desired pointof extension by the spring` b2. The proj eciion X on bar J is so placed that when J is at its highest point said collar will pass above and engage the bolt b it it is sufliciently extended and sustain the false bottom E Ein a horizontal position. The projection y on bar L is so placed that when the cover D is closed the collaiwillbe below the level of the bolt b, and when the same is sufficiently extended it will engage said projection, lock the cover, and prevent its being opened. A spring is provided on the under side of the cover or edge of the box to raise the cover a short distance when unlocked, thus permitting the instant locking of the `false bottom. The operation of the device is as follows: Vhen the lever D is raised, the end of the bar J will strile the spring ir, throw back the bolt l), and release the bar L. The spring in the cover or on the edge ot the box will raise the cover and rod sufficiently to release the spring b2 and bolt l2 and cause said bolt to engage the projection X on barJ and lock the false bottom E E. Mail-matter is then deposited and the cover D closed. The bar L strikes the spring b2, withdraws the bolt b and releases bar J and false bottom E E. Also,at the same time as springw is released, bolt b will shoot out and engage projection g/ of bar L and lock the cover.

Having,` thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A box tor the reception of mail-matter, in combination with a cover provided with locking mechanism, and a false bottom also provided with locking mechanism, and means for unlocking the cover and closing and locking` the false bottom simultaneously.

2. A box for the reception of mail-matter, in combination with a cover provided with locking mechanism, a false bottom also provided with locking mechanism, and means for locking the cover and unlocking the false bottom simultaneously.

A box for the reception of mail-matter, in combination with a cover which is provided with locking mechanism, and a false bottom also provided with locking mechanism, and mechanism attached to the false bottom and controlling the locking' mechanism `of the cover and false bottom, whereby from the exterior of the box the false bottom may be closed and locked and the cover unlocked simultaneously, or the cover when closed may be locked and the false bottom unlocked and opened simultaneously.

+L. A box for the reception of mail-matter, in combination with a cover whichv is pro- .vided with locking mechanism, and a false bottom also provided with locking mechanism, and a lever suitably pivoted to a part of the box attached to the false bottom and conf trolling the locking` mechanism of the cover 'and false bottom, whereby from the exterior of the box the false bottom may be closed and locked and the cover unlocked simultaneously, or the cover when closed may be locked and the false bottom unlocked and opened simultaneously.

5. A box for the reception of mail-matter, in combination with a cover and a false bottom and a lever suitably pivoted to a part of the box and attached to the false bottom, and a locking mechanism for the false bottom which operates automatically to lock the false bottom when it is raised and closed, and a locking mechanism for the cover controlled by the lever by which the false bottom is raised, in such a manner that the cover will be unlocked when the lever has raised the 'false bottom and its locking mechanism has locked it, substantially as described.

6. A box for the reception of inail-matter, in combination with a cover provided with locking mechanism, and a false bottom also provided with locking mechanism, and means for locking the false bottom by mechanism which operates to unlock the cover. y

7. A box for the reception of mail-matter, in combination with a cover provided with locking mechanism, and a false bottom also provided with locking mechanism, with means for locking the false bottom operated by the same mechanism which unlocks the top.

S. A box Jfor the reception of mail-matter, in combination with a cover provided with locking mechanism, and a false bottom also provided with locking' mechanism, and means for locking the cover when closed by mechanism which operates to unlock the false bottom.

9. A box for the reception of mail-matter, in combination with a cover provided with IOO IIO

locking` mechanism, and a false bottom also provided with locking,` mechanism, and m cans for locking the cover when closed operated by the same mechanism which unlocks the false bottom. y

l0. A box for the reception of mail-matter, in combination with a cover, and provided with locking mechanism which consists of a rod secured thereto, and a bolt suitably located on the interior of the box in position to engage said rod and lock the cover, and a false bottom also provided with a rod secured thereto and operating within the box and connected with a bolt engaging said rod,wliereby the false bottom when closed may be locked, and means connected to the falsebottom rod whereby the false bottom may be raised and locked7 and means secured to or operated by the false-botto1n rod whereby the locking` mechanism of the cover will be released when the false bottom has been raised and locked, substantially as described.

l1. A box for the reception of maitmattcr, in combination with a cover which is provided with locking,` xneehanisn'i, which consists of a rod secured to the cover, and a bolt suitably mounted on the interior of the box in position to engage the hole in or offset upon said rod, whereby the cover maybe locked, and a false bottom also provided with a rod, and a bolt suitably located on the interior of the box in position to en gage a hole in or projection upon said rod, whereby the false bottom may be locked when closed and a lever pivoted to a suitable part of the box and attached to the false bottom, and mechanism operated by said lever whereby, when the false bottom is closed and locked, the cover will be unlocked.

12. A box for the reception of mail-matter, in combination with a false bottom provided with a rod which engages a bolt suitably located within the box to engage a hole in or projection upon said .rod and lock the false bottom when closed, a cover forsaid box also provided with a rod, and the bolt suitably located within said box to engage a hole in or projection upon said rod, and means operated by the cover whereby the false bottom will be unlocked and opened `when the cover is closed and locked. i

lf3. A box for the reception of maildnatten having an opening in the bottom and a door hinged to one side of said opening', the two opposite sides of the box between which the door swings extending below the level 4of the other two sides and being provided with devices to limit the fall of the door, substan tally as described.

In testimony whereof we ailix our signatures in presence of two witnesses. 

